Journey Leading To Hazard

4(short version)

As Drisana neared her delivery date, she was plagued by nightmares. And unfortunately the nightmare was taking the form of reality.

Indraprasth was attacked by a plague. People were affected severely and dying. Their skin was shrinking, pus was coming out from large swollen pores and a strange rotten smell was coming out of their mouth. Nakul and Sahdev were working tirelessly to find a cure. Yudhisthir ordered to close the gates of Indraprasth, so it didn't infect outsiders.

An anxious Drisana was dreaming of an old hideous man who was the cause of this disease.

"Who are you and why are you doing this?!"

"I am an addict! Addict of power! My master wants blood. More and more blood. What am I to do Rajkumari? I am helpless! I cannot anger him. Only by pleasing him will I be able to regain youth again!" He said showing a black stone which was omitting heavy smoke.

"By killing thousands of people, you want to regain your youth?"

"Yes!" The old tantrik had replied showing his yellow teeth. It wasn't only his youth he wanted to achieve, but to increase his strength of tantras too.
"But there is another way. A way to save all these dying people!"

Drisana was afraid to ask what way it was. The sly smile of the man was giving her the creeps. The man took two steps closer to her and continued.

"If I sacrifice a fully developed child who is still in his mother's womb, the stone will be satisfied! And I won't have to kill anyone else."

Drisana's blood turned to cold hearing him. She was finding it difficult to breath as the man came closer and fixed his eyes on her very much rounded belly.

"A male child!

A pure Suryavanshi!

Whose Mata and Pita both belongs from the lineage of Surya!

Who bears the blood of both the great Kurus and the vigorous Sasens!

The unique combination of power and intelligence!"

Drisana watched with horror as the man forwarded his hand to touch her womb. But just before he could, she woke up from her sleep with a start.

Drisana was scared for her child. When she told Nakul everything, he assured her that no harm would come to their child. He wouldn't let it. Both the parents were tensed for their children after this. Nakul raised the security around the children of the family and Drisana.

Days passed and the situation of Indraprasth worsened only. They were completely cut off from the outside world. Even sending news through birds was not safe and avoided.
Tireless work of day and night combined with Nakul's determination to save his family finally showed him a way to end this calamity.

"What are you saying Nakul? Have you lost your mind!?"

"I am sure bhrata Bheem. This is the only way to end people's suffering.

This disease affects the body, but the soul remains pure and unaffected. I will detach my soul from body through yog and find the tantrik (one who practices tantra). He won't be able to infect me and my soul will be able to touch the black stone which is emitting the smoke. If I purify the stone, the effect of the disease will be over."

"This can cause your death Nakul! What if something goes wrong and you're not able to return to your body?! What if the tantrik finds your body while you're detached? You'll be nothing, but a dead body during the process! And if your material body gets harmed, your soul will be forever trapped between realms!"

"I will just have to take the risk bhrata Arjun."

"I will do it. You won't go." Arjun said with determination.

"Only I will do it brata Arjun. It's my child he wants to harm. And it's my responsibility only to protect him. Let me fulfill my duty."

Against the protests from his brothers,  Nakul prepared himself for it. No one told Drisana about it as per Nakul's request. He didn't want to worry her more. It was decided that Nakul would performe the yog inside the temple of Narayan. Sahdev would remain inside with him to protect his body and Arjun would remain guard just outside the temple.

Before going, Nakul was spending sometime with Drisana and Nayanika. The little girl of one year was a pure daddy's angel.

"You're spoiling her."

"Are you jealous Hridaya?" Nakul asked with a teasing smile, not looking at Drisana and only playing with their daughter.

Drisana narrowed her eyes at him and said with a sulking expression,

"Of course, I am. You're my man and you don't even look at me when she's around!"

Nakul laughed loudly at her complaint and gave a quick peck on her pouting lips.

"I don't need to look at you, Hridaya. I am so much absorbed in you that I always feel your presence inside me. My eyes may remain somewhere else, but my heart sees you only."

The next generation's Mahanayak is coming....😉